Washington, D.C. - Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today praised the ruling by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board calling for a full public hearing in connection with the ongoing safety review of the San Onofre nuclear power plant. The San Onofre nuclear power plant, which is located in a seismic and tsunami zone, has been shut down since January 2012 after a leak of radioactive material led to the discovery of unexpected deterioration of tubes in the plant's new steam generators.
Senator Boxer said: "I want to thank the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board judges for their sound ruling setting a legal framework for a full public hearing before any final decision on the restart of the San Onofre nuclear power plant is made by the NRC. It is a comfort to me that the safety board stood up for what is right. Given that the NRC Commissioners asked the Board to undertake this review and given that these judges were appointed by the NRC, I expect the Commissioners to follow their lead. Over 8 million people live within 50 miles of the San Onofre plant and they deserve to be protected."
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